Chapter 6

"Hey, Diana." Clark cleared his throat awkwardly. "This might not be the best time…"

Just concentrate on his face, she told herself, and keep your voice steady. "Oh, okay. So, um, I guess I should come back at a more convenient time?"

He took a second to rethink the situation. Normally, after he and Dinah made love, she wouldn't wake up until noon. Glancing at the clock over his shoulder, Clark saw that it was only 10 AM. He decided it'd be safe to let Diana in.

"You know what? On second thought, now's actually a good time. Make yourself comfortable. I'll just, uh, get a shirt. I'll be right back."

True to his word, he was back in an instant wearing an undershirt that clearly outlined his perfect physique.

Just concentrate on his face, she told herself again. Remember your training. Don't allow his, er, hotness to distract you.

"Can I get you anything to drink?" Clark offered.

"Um, there's actually something important I was hoping to discuss with you…" Diana hoped he couldn't hear her heart pounding like a hammer.

Clark could hear her heart pounding like a hammer. "Okay…what is it?"

She anxiously shifted from one foot to the other, pondering her dilemma. She'd come here determined to tell him, but now, she wasn't so sure. If she told him, there was the possibility of a disaster. On the other hand, if she didn't tell him, he'd never know…

Diana closed her eyes momentarily. Are you an Amazon or a coward? She took a deep breath. She made up her mind; she would tell him.

In a voice so soft she wasn't sure even Kal could hear, Diana whispered, "I love you."

Clark's eyes widened in surprise. He had, in fact, heard her, but there was no way he'd heard correctly. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"I love you," she repeated quietly.

He scratched his head, slightly worried. There was definitely something wrong with his hearing. "Sorry, but I still can't hear you. Could you speak up?"

"I LOVE YOU!" she yelled.

Clark's jaw dropped to the floor. He could not believe she had just said that – not even after hearing it three times. With an expression of severe shock, he took a few steps back and sank down into the couch. He tried to say something, but found speech impossible at the moment. And so he just sat there dumbly, trying to make sense of what had happened.

Diana had witnessed all of this in silence. Oh, Hera, what have I done? This was a huge mistake.

Without saying a word, she sprinted out the door and apartment at top speed and leapt into the clear blue sky. She didn't let the tears fall until she was almost as high as the clouds.

I told him I love him, but he said nothing. He doesn't love me back.

Diana sent a silent prayer to the gods for strength. This was the first time she'd ever truly been rejected. Well, Bruce had technically rejected her initially over and over and over and over, but Kal's rejection felt a thousand times more devastating.

As she flew over Metropolis, the people looked like ants to her. This made her feel lonelier than ever.

2 hours later…

Dinah woke up and instinctively reached over to the other side of the bed. Clark wasn't there. But then again, he was hardly ever still in bed by this time of day.

She pulled off the covers, revealing her naked, voluptuous body, and walked over to the long mirror. She was breathtaking, and she knew it. Not bothering to put on any clothes, Dinah opened the bedroom door into the living room. Clark was sitting on the sofa with a stunned expression on his face. She licked her lips. He looked so damn sexy in a white undershirt.

With a sway in her hips, she sauntered over and climbed onto his lap, wrapping her legs around his waist.

"Hey, babe," she whispered sultrily, letting her hands roam all over his body.

Clark said nothing. His mind was elsewhere.

Dinah rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Hello? Earth to Clark Kent!"

At once, he jerked away from his reverie. "Oh, uh, hey, Dinah. What's up?"

She scoffed. "What's the matter with you?"

He shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe what happened to me this morning."

"And…do you wanna tell me exactly what that is?"

Clark sighed. "Not really."

Dinah shrugged. "Whatever. Suit yourself."

They sat there in silence for a few seconds.

Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. "What the hell is wrong with you? Here I am, totally naked right in front of you, and all you do is sit there like you've just seen a ghost!"

"'Cause I think I did," he deadpanned.

Dinah ran her hands through his hair and aggressively kissed him on the lips, but he didn't kiss her back. Seeing that it was useless, she got off of him. Not only did she feel annoyed, but she was also slightly hurt as well.

"Alright, what's the matter?"

Clark rubbed his temples. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. He then tried again. "Diana told me that…she loves me…"

Dinah threw her hands up in exasperation. "Well, big surprise there!"

He felt confused. "What do you mean?"

She sat down next to him. "For a Superman, you can be awfully blind. Deep down, Diana has always loved you."

At these words, Clark couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, right!"

"It's the truth," she told him gently. "And you've always loved her, too."

He was about to argue, but Dinah interrupted him.

"You don't have to deny it, Clark."

Sensing defeat, he sighed and closed his eyes. "I guess I've always had feelings for her. But I never really understood them. Besides, I was with Lois, and she was with Bruce."

Dinah put her hand on his shoulder. "But in the end, no one can come between the two of you – not Lois, Bruce, or even me."

"Thanks for understanding." He suddenly looked suspicious. "Wait a second, how did you know about my feelings for Diana?"

Dinah winked at him. "Women's intuition."

He chuckled, shaking his head.

"So," she began, "are we cool?"

"Yeah, of course," Clark answered quickly. "Let's just keep what happened between the two of us."

She smiled. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

"Well, uh, thanks for…"

"The sex?" Dinah prompted him.

He shifted in his seat uncomfortably, not knowing quite what to say.

She laughed. "Don't worry. I won't tell anyone if you don't."

Relief spread across Clark's face. "Thanks. We can still be friends, right?"

"Definitely."

"Um, Dinah?"

"Yeah?"

"You're still naked."

Later that day, Diana was in her Watchtower quarters working on a report. She suppressed a yawn. It had been a long day, but she was determined to finish.

A knock sounded on the door.

She opened the door, but regretted it upon seeing that the visitor was Kal.

Embarrassed, she mumbled, "I'm sorry for what I said earlier today. I wasn't thinking, and –"

"No, I'm the one who should apologize." He took a step closer to her. "There was something I should've said but didn't."

"What?" Diana asked.

Clark simply replied, "I love you, too."

A beautiful smile appeared on her equally beautiful face. No words could describe her happiness at the moment. She had always dreamt of hearing him say these words, but never did she think it would actually happen. I'm in Heaven,she happily realized.

Without saying anything, Clark cupped her face in his hands and kissed her deeply.

As Diana eagerly kissed him back, she mused, I never imagined that Heaven would be so arousing.